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Kickin' It: August 2018 Wrap Up

Wednesday, September 05, 2018

Kickin’ It is a feature at The Bucket List where I round-up the whole month in one post, bringing you reviews you may have missed, other awesome bookish things, and even what I’m currently obsessed with in other media besides books. August, so far, has been my second best reading month. It was much too hot outside so being inside with an iced tea and magnificent air conditioning was the ideal this month. I was able to get 14 books done and surprised even myself when I went on a library binge and ordered some books I’ve been reading to read before purchasing. So, while my owned TBR yelled at me from their shelves, I got some other great books done.

Here’s my August recap:

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo (4 stars): Kdrama and books! Why has no one ever done this before? It was absolutely amazing! At times, a bit crazy but I enjoyed all the kdrama references.

A Touch of Goldby Annie Sullivan (4 stars): I love some obscure retellings—the world needs more King Midas retellings. The story follows King Midas’s daughter as she embarks on an adventure to save her father. It was so much fun! And there’s pirates: automatic win!

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (4 stars): I really enjoyed this one. The writing was fantastic! It opens an important discussion that everyone needs to be a part of.

Whenby Daniel H. Pink (4 stars): After reading Drive for class a few years ago, I wanted to check out his newest release. It’s unbelievable how much time affects our productivity. This book is filled with bite-sized, awesome facts about time that you didn’t even know you wanted to know.

The Darkest Mindsby Alexandra Bracken (4 stars): I’m over dystopian. I just have no more interest in reading it. Though I wanted to give this one a go because Bracken did so well with her time travel adventure, Passenger. And I really liked this one. It reminded me a lot of Push where the characters were all given different powers and their going up against some evil. Surprisingly, I will be continuing in this series because I’m so invested now that I must know what happens!

The Miniaturistby Jessie Burton (4.5 stars): I picked this one up at the library on a whim and found a few days after that it is being adapted into a television show. I thought its goal was to find out who the miniaturist is. Instead, the book is more about the journey of our protagonist making her own way through her new marriage. Despite thinking it was one thing when it turned out to be another, The Miniaturist turned out to be one of my favorites of the month!

A Gathering of Shadowsby V.E. Schwab (4 stars): I had the highest expectations for this one. It didn’t quite disappoint but I did like A Darker Shade of Magic a bit better. I found this sequel to be a filler episode of what Schwab has been building. Whereas the first book focused on plot, this one took a step back to develop the characters. It was remarkably written and every scene with Kell and Lila together was so adorable!

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (5 stars): The only one with 5 stars this month! I don’t know what its been this year but maybe I’m starting to get picky about my 5 star books. Anyway, this book was such a gem. It follows Darius who travels to Iran with his family to go see his ailing grandfather. Its such an important and powerful coming of age story!

The Ocean at the End of the Laneby Neil Gaiman (3 stars): I’m not too crazy about magical realism. However, Gaiman gave me the genre in a very small form, totaling around 250 pages. It was compelling and interesting. The narrator, a young boy of 7 years old, painted an imaginative world.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2 stars): In anticipation of the Netflix adaptation, I read this one. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it despite reading all of the marvelous 4- and 5-star reviews on Goodreads. The book is told entirely through letters which creates a disconnect between the large cast of characters and its reader. It was a bit slow. I went in hoping for a romance but got very little of that.

Lucky in Love by Kasie West (2.5 stars): My least favorite Kasie West ever, I’m sad to say. I read Kasie West for the romance and besides the last 50 pages or so, there was little romance. No, instead readers sit through the aftermath when a newly-turned 18-year-old wins the lottery and buys it on a long list of rather dumb items.

The Dire Kingby William Ritter (4 stars): The finale of the Jackaby series was everything I hoped it would be and more!

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (3.5 stars): This one has been sitting on my shelves for such a long time. Having seen the movie adaptation, I knew how it was going to end and I wasn’t ready for the heartache. I didn’t really care for the writing and, at times, the timeline did confuse me. However, the premise and plot were well-thought out.

Suite Scarlettby Maureen Johnson (3.5 stars): Another book that has been sitting on my shelf for years. It wasn’t my favorite contemporary of Johnson’s but I enjoyed the setting: the protagonist lives in a New York City hotel. It was lots of fun!

Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll (9/18/18): I’ve been counting down the days until I get a chance to read this one. A group of people all work together at a shop that sells unclaimed baggage from airports. Their lives become intertwined and unpacked.

Black Wings Beatingby Alex London (9/25/18): Twins journey to find the one thing they believe will stop the war. It sounds like this book has a little bit for everyone!

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics (9/25/18): When June tries to rebel, her parents place her in an asylum, hoping to reform her. This sounds like the perfect read to start off my creepy reads of October.

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Oh my goodness, so many amazing books read this month! I have I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE sitting on my shelf right now and am really looking forward to reading it! But I'm sorry you didn't like LUCKY IN LOVE -- that was my first Kasie West book and I also didn't like it. I found the main character so frustrating and didn't feel the chemistry between her and the love interest. It's kind of turned me away from Kasie West books at the moment but so many people love them, I definitely want to try reading her books again.

I'm Jeanna!

I love books, coffee, cute planners, blogging, and everything in between. I don't want you to miss out on the fantastic books out there, which is why I talk about books and write reviews. My reviews may include lame jokes and a side of sass, that make you feel like you are sitting down with an good, old friend for coffee. So grab a seat and let's get chatting.